different between tyranny vs authoritarian

English

Etymology

From Middle English tirannye, borrowed from Old French tyrannie, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, tyrania, from Ancient Greek ???????? (turannía, “tyranny”), from ???????? (túrannos, “lord, master, sovereign, tyrant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t???ni/
• Rhymes: -??ni

Noun

tyranny (countable and uncountable, plural tyrannies)

1. A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power; this system of government.
2. The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.
3. Absolute power, or its use.
4. A system of government in which power is exercised on behalf of the ruler or ruling class, without regard to the wishes of the governed.
5. Extreme severity or rigour.

Synonyms

• (government): autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, monarchy

Derived terms

• anarcho-tyranny
• tyrannical
• tyranny of the majority

Related terms

• tyrant

Translations

See also

• autocracy
• monarchy

Further reading

• tyranny in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• tyranny in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• tyranny at OneLook Dictionary Search

Middle English

Noun

tyranny

1. Alternative form of tirannye

English

Etymology

Circa 1880 authority +? -arian

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?????r??t??r??n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /????r??t?ri?n/, /????r??t?ri?n/, /????r??t?ri?n/, /????r??t?ri?n/

Adjective

authoritarian (comparative more authoritarian, superlative most authoritarian)

1. Of, or relating to, or exhibiting strict obedience to an authority; favoring authoritarianism over civic and individual liberties.
2. Demanding obedience to authority; marked by authoritarianism; dictatorial, tyrannical.
3. Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one were an authority.

Synonyms

• (characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority): illiberal, oppressive
• (tending to impose one's demands): arrogant, commanding, haughty, imperious
• See also Thesaurus:bossy

Antonyms

• (characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority): liberal
• (tending to impose one's demands): servile, humble, modest

Derived terms

• antiauthoritarian
• authoritarianism
• authoritarianity
• authoritarianly
• authoritarianness

Translations

Noun

authoritarian (plural authoritarians)

1. One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.

   The dictator was an authoritarian.

2. One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.
   • 2006, Robert Altemeyer, The Authoritarians

Translations

References

• authoritarian at OneLook Dictionary Search
• authoritarian in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.